Joshua Zetumer, writer and showrunner of the highly anticipated series 'Say Nothing,' dives into the challenges of dramatizing volatile historical events. He talks about balancing creative control within a diverse writers' room and the importance of character development. Zetumer explores the complexities surrounding figures like Jerry Adams in Northern Ireland's conflict, and shares insights on maintaining authenticity amidst the tension of real-life narratives. Plus, he and Craig tackle the importance of emotional resonance in writing, all while indulging in the joys of ice cream!
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Early IRA Project
Joshua Zetumer's first Hollywood job involved writing about the IRA for Leonardo DiCaprio.
This early work prepared him for adapting "Say Nothing," despite initial doubts about its production.
insights INSIGHT
Balancing Authenticity and Accessibility
"Say Nothing" presented a unique challenge: appealing to a global audience unfamiliar with the Troubles.
The show's creators had to balance authenticity with accessibility for broader viewership.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Subtle Emphasis
To emphasize crucial points in your script, try underlining key passages multiple times.
This tactic can subtly signal their importance without being overtly difficult.
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Behind the Scenes of a Creative Revolution: from The Sopranos and The Wire to Mad Men and Breaking Bad
Brett Martin
Difficult Men delves into the rise and inner workings of the 'Third Golden Age of Television' by combining deep reportage with cultural analysis and historical context. The book features extensive interviews with key figures such as David Chase, David Simon, David Milch, Alan Ball, and Vince Gilligan, among others. It reveals the complexities and challenges faced by these creators and how their shows transformed the television landscape and American culture[2][3][4].
Please kill me
The Uncensored Oral History of Punk
Legs McNeil
Gillian McCain
This book is a comprehensive oral history of the punk movement, capturing the voices of numerous punk figures from the 1960s and 1970s. It chronicles the scene from its early days with bands like the Velvet Underground and Iggy and the Stooges to the rise of iconic groups such as the Ramones, Blondie, and the Patti Smith Group. Through hundreds of interviews, McNeil and McCain provide a vivid and unfiltered account of the punk era, including its culture, music, and key personalities.
Say Nothing
A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
Ariel Font Prades
Patrick Radden Keefe
The book delves into the bitter conflict in Northern Ireland and its aftermath, focusing on the lives of key figures such as Dolours Price, Brendan Hughes, Gerry Adams, and Jean McConville's children. It explores the civil rights movement, the Provisional IRA's bombing campaign, the 1981 hunger strike, the peace process, and the post-conflict struggle to understand crimes like McConville's murder. The narrative also incorporates the Belfast Project, a secret oral history endeavor that collected stories from former IRA members. The book is a panoramic history that captures the complexities and tragic consequences of the Troubles[1][2][5].
Craig welcomes writer and showrunner Joshua Zetumer, creator of the limited series Say Nothing, to explore the process of dramatizing real events — particularly when the subject matter can be volatile. They discuss how to keep a sprawling historical epic from feeling like a lecture, keeping a consistent tone, humanizing complicated people, and how not to get sued by the people who were really involved.
They also answer listener questions on following up with people after the fires, charting the emotional journey of the audience, and whether writers need to cite their sources when writing about real events.
In our bonus segment for premium members, Craig and Joshua pretend to be civil engineers and ask, how can we make Los Angeles function better?
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